Tom Brennan: 2019 METS PROSPECT PROJECTED PROMOTIONS: PITCHERS

2019 METS PROSPECT PROJECTED PROMOTIONS: PITCHERS

As I wrote on Tuesday, "I do it my way, Paul Anka".

That said, I start "my way" in this article, at the bottom of the Mets Minors and work my way up, focusing on high performing 2018 prospects and early round picks who perhaps struggled in 2018. 

Most guys start at the top of the organization and work their way down - perhaps I am dyslexic.  I do enjoy a nice slice of upside down cake, that much I can tell you.

Today's part two is for the pitchers. 

My prior article?

If you guessed hitters, you are as astute as I know you to be. 

FROM THE DSL:

Jefferson Escorcha pitches with slick grace, according to Jefferson Starship's Grace Slick.  

The 18 year old 5'11", 180 lefty killed it, mostly in relief, going 5-3, 1.57, 0.78 WHIP, 5 saves, and 63 Ks in 57 IP.   Send him to Kingsport in 2019 and let him start - maybe we got something real good here.

Andres German is a 21 year old 6'1, 150 righty in his 2nd year in the DSL.  He went 5-2, 1.97 and allowed just 5 earned runs in his last 8 games spanning 47 innings.  I'd send him to Kingsport in 2019.

FROM THE GCL METS:

Simeon Woods Richardson – great # 2 pick, athletic 17 year old flamethrower, great control, lots of Ks, stingy on runs.  I would like to see him start the season in full A ball Columbia, but will settle for Brooklyn if I have to.  I hope we have Dwight Gooden II here. 

Ramon Guzman, a 6'4" 154 pound 21 year old righty, started out poorly in the DSL in 2018, got bumped up to the GCL, and did great there, going 5-2, 2.05 in 48 innings.  Bump him up to Brooklyn in 2019, when he'll be 22.

Cesar Loaiza and Christofer Dominguez were two late arrivals in the GCL following excellent DSL seasons.  Overall, 20 year old 6'3", 165 lefty Loaiza went 4-2, 1.53 in 47 IP, with 57 Ks, while 18 year old 6'2", 220 lefty Dominguez was 7-1, 1.84 in 59 innings, despite giving up 4 earned runs in his last short outing.  I'd send both to Kingsport in 2019.  

FROM THE KINGSPORT METS:

Willie Taveras was a stellar 7-1, 2.35, 1.02 WHIP between GCL and Kingsport.   The 5'11", 160, 20 year old righty did allow 13 earned runs in his last 27 innings, so my guess is he is Brooklyn-bound in 2018 in his attempt to become the next Jaison Vilera for the Cyclones.

FROM THE BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Jaison Vilera (5-2 in 13 starts) should go to either Columbia or St Lucie in 2019, as he led the NY Penn League in ERA (1.83) and Ks (78).

Christian James, now 20 and drafted in the 14th round in 2016, was superb.  He actually totaled 9 innings in St Lucie and Binghamton, and went 9 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, a walk and 9 Ks, but pitched terrifically most of the year in Brooklyn.  My take is the 6'3", 210 righty should go directly to St Lucie in 2019.

Andrew Mitchell, drafted this year, will be 24 next year, so he needed to impress.  He did, in relief, going 2-3, 1.17 in 23 innings with 32 Ks.  Off to Columbia's bullpen he should go in 2019.

Kyle Wilson, now 21 and a 35th rounder in 2017, had a fine year in 18 outings (13 starts), going 5-5, 3.27 with 78 Ks in 72 IP.  I'd target him for Columbia's rotation in 2019.

Joshua Walker, a 37th rounder in 2017 who will be 24 next year, was solid in 2018, with a 1-1, 3.27 record and 52 Ks in 41 IP.  Columbia pen or rotation in 2019.

The relief corps was just plain excellent in Brooklyn with 2018 draftees Tyler Megill (1-2, 3.21, 36 Ks in 28 IP), Kevin Smith (4-1, 0.76, 28 Ks in 23 IP, 0.76 WHIP), Tommy Wilson (1-0, 1.23, 22 IP, 27 K), Ryley Gilliam (2.08 ERA, 31 Ks in 17 IP), and Adam Hill (1-1, 2.35, 26 K in 15 IP), not to mention 2017 draftee  Billy Oxford (8-1, 1.34 in 26 games).  All are likely headed to Columbia or, in a few cases, perhaps, directly to St Lucie.

FROM THE COLUMBIA FIREFLIES:

Tony Dibrell (7-6, 3.50 in 23 starts) fanned 147 in 131 innings.

Tony Terrific is surely ticketed for St Lucie - I anticipate he will get promoted mid-season to Binghamton too.

Conner O'Neil (6-0, 2.86 in 27 games with 56 Ks in 44 IP), and lefty Aaron Ford (2-2, 2.03, 32 Ks in 27 IP) performed quite well, and are mostly likely targeted for the Lucie Bullpen, according to Fred and Ethel Mertz.

FROM THE ST LUCIE METS:

David Peterson finished strong and Anthony Kay pitched well too.  The two very highly drafted lefties have to be moving on to Binghamton, and hopefully joining the Mets by early 2020.

Joe Cavallaro was great in Columbia and held his own in St Lucie over 8 post-promo starts - I'd promote him to Binghamton to start in 2019, too.  The 23 year old righty, in his second season, went 10-6 with a low 3's ERA and 129 Ks in 127 IP.

Jordan Humphreys and Tom Szapucki will get promotions of sorts as they return from Tommy John surgery after missing 2018.  The two stellar performers will hope to pick up where they left off.

Trey Cobb was fine in the pen in 2018 and should be headed to Binghamton.  The 24 year old 2017 8th rounder was 3-2, 3.22 in 42 games, and 12 saves in 50 IP, with 52 Ks.

FROM THE BINGHAMTON RUMBLE PONIES:

Starters: Dunn, Kilome, Jannis:

Relievers: Torres, Villines, Blackham, Ryan, Atkins

Justin Dunn had 24 starts in 2018, and by my account, 14 were from very good to really good, while the other 10 ranged from pretty good to pretty bad.  All told, for the 22 year old former first rounder, he was plenty good enough to move up to AAA for 2019, hey, maybe the Mets, too, at some point.

Franklyn Kilome was just 4-9, but the trade-acquired 6’6” fireballer was very solid in 6 of 7 starts with Binghamton.  He should be AAA bound to start 2019.

Mickey Jannis struggled in early 2018, but knuckled down – in his last 10 starts, he threw to a 2.19 ERA, so off to AAA he too should go to start 2019.  My guess is he will eventually latch onto some team not afraid of the knuckleball that will need a starter – not sure if that will be the Mets.  Maybe he chooses to move on.

Joshua Torres, Steve Villines, Matt Blackham, Ryder Ryan and Adam Atkins all had solid to very solid 2018 seasons, and I see no reason any of them should not be in AAA next year, especially considering how bad the current AAA Mets squad pitched this year.  Syracuse needs a mostly overhauled bullpen, to avoid the scenario of 2018 where 18 pitchers had ERAs of 6.00 or higher in Vegas.

FROM THE LAS VEGAS 51'S:

Chris Flexen and PJ Conlon should be getting ready to try, try again, in a more conducive pitching atmosphere.  Both had troublesome 2018's, including a little time in Queens.  They likely will continue the AAA to NY shuttle in 2019.  

Drew Gagnon, just called up to the Mets in September, could do the same.  Drew fanned 167, 31 more than the league's # 2.

Kyle Regnault and Bobby Wahl - will they be in the organization in 2019?  Both had mostly fine seasons in relief.  Kyle puzzlingly has yet to see the big leagues as he keeps getting bypassed.  After a very bad season start, he ended up 4-1, with 82 Ks in 60 IP.  The lefty is 12-1 over his last 3 seasons, including 9-1 for Vegas. 

Guys who should be bouncing between the majors and minors in relief in 2019: Tim Peterson, Drew Smith, Jacob Rhame, Corey Taylor, Eric Hanhold, Paul Sewald, Tylor Bashlor, and Dave Roseboom, and perhaps others.  But beware the use of too many such guys, because of such collectively borderline major league arms are 28th-best-in-2018 5.00 ERA major league bullpens made.

Boy, that took a long time - but that's my take.

Tons of arms - the pipeline looks strong and deep, but lacking a dude or dudes who could be season-changers for the Mets in 2019.

What's your take?